President Joe Biden’s administration is placing healthcare issues, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, high on its list of priorities. Although major policy changes are unlikely to pass through Congress in the next two years because of close margins in the House and Senate, many changes are expected in the healthcare world, according to Bill Barnes, Intermountain’s government relations director.
Here are a few healthcare-related things to watch for from the new administration:
- President Biden has already signed several executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including orders requiring mask wearing in federal buildings, airports, and other modes of public transportation. Other orders seek to increase the country’s testing capacity, expand data collection, and give more funding for research of new COVID-19 treatments.
- The administration is likely to extend public health emergency waivers for healthcare systems, such as those for the use of telehealth, which are set to expire in April.
- President Biden has promised to rapidly expand distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, including a proposal to establish federally supported community vaccination centers and a program to make vaccines available at local pharmacies through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The president has also announced the U.S.’s re-engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to participate in coordinating the international response to COVID-19. Former President Trump had previously withdrawn the United States from the WHO on July 6, 2020.
- President Biden is likely to reverse many Trump administration policies affecting the Affordable Care Act and focus on policies that expand healthcare coverage to more people. This will likely include adding more funding for the HealthCare.gov advertising budget and the navigator program that helps people sign up for insurance coverage.
Intermountain doesn’t support or oppose any candidate or party, but strongly encourages community involvement.